As candidates and political parties intensify campaign ahead March and April general election, representatives of leading political parties, on Thursday, in Osun State, signed a peace pact to ensure violence-free polls.

The development came as security agents warned hoodlums against act capable of disturbing public peace, threatening to deal ruthlessly with anybody or group who may want to cause violence.

Stalwarts of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties in the state signed the pact in the presence of the heads of security agencies in the state, assuring that the document would be binding on all their supporters.

Addressing the gathering, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone II, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, Director of State Security Service, Andrew Iyokia, state Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Martins Lawrence and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, urged political parties to respect the agreement in the nation’s interest.

The AIG maintained that the police had a duty to ensuring protection of lives without bias or prejudice, cautioning that any candidate or supporter caught fomenting trouble would face the full wrath of law.

Assistant Controller of Prisons, ACP Adelakun Kayode, reminded political parties and their supporters that prison yard was open for anyone that causes trouble before, during and after elections.

In his response, the state chairman of the APC, Mr Gboyega Famodun, promised that his party would not breach the peace pact, just as he tasked the police to remain apolitical and be fair to all parties.

Similarly, the state secretary of the PDP, Mr Bola Ajao, said that the party was known to be law-abiding, assuring that its members and supporters would continue to promote peaceful coexistence before, during and after the polls.